Exhaustible toilet and odor removal system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an exhaustible toilet and odor removal system with integrated components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of toilet fixturesand more specifically to an exhaustible toilet and system for theremoval of odors.

(2) Related Art

Various devices have been used to remove offensive odors from toiletbowls. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,293 to Stephens et al. describesa hooded apparatus for attachment to a toilet bowl which is capable ofdrawing off offensive odors within the toilet bowl. Such devices sufferfrom a number of disadvantages, including the visibility of externallymounted components, the necessity of cleaning such additional componentswhen the toilet bowl is cleaned, and the prevention by such additionalcomponents of thorough cleaning of the toilet bowl itself. Accordingly,there is a need in the art for a device and system for the eliminationof odors from a toilet bowl that include no or few externally visiblecomponents, require no additional cleaning, and do not interfere withcleaning of the toilet or toilet bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes each of the disadvantages in the relatedart by providing an exhaustible toilet and odor removal system havingintegrated components that require no additional cleaning and that donot interfere with the cleaning of the toilet or toilet bowl.

A first aspect of the invention provides an exhaustible toiletcomprising: a toilet bowl; a toilet tank including a cistern and a tanklid; a seal between the cistern and the tank lid capable of forming asubstantially airtight seal between the cistern and the tank lid; atleast one pathway for the flow of air from an interior of the toiletbowl to an interior of the toilet tank; and at least one opening in thetoilet tank for exhausting air from within the toilet tank.

A second aspect of the invention provides a system for removing odors,the system comprising: an exhaustible toilet including: a toilet bowl; atoilet tank having at least one orifice for removing air within thetoilet tank; and at least one airway between the toilet bowl and thetoilet tank; an exhaust device connected to the at least one orifice ofthe toilet tank.

A third aspect of the invention provides a toilet tank having at leastone orifice for removing air within the toilet tank.

The foregoing and other features of the invention will be apparent fromthe following more particular description of embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, withreference to the following figures, wherein like designations denotelike elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1A shows a side view of an exhaustible toilet according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a top view of an exhaustible toilet according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a partial cut-away side view of an odor removal systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an exhaustible toilet and a system forthe removal of odors from a toilet bowl. Turning now to the drawings,FIG. 1A shows a toilet 100 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, the toilet 100 comprising a toilet bowl 10 and toilet tank20. Most of the components of the toilet tank 20 are the same as may befound in known toilet tanks, including a cistern 22 for holding aquantity of water 60A, a tank lid 24, a water line 26 for dischargingwater 60A from the cistern 22 into the toilet bowl 10, and an air line28 for providing atmospheric air to enable flushing.

As in known toilet tanks, a flushing mechanism is employed forcontrolling the discharge of water 60A from the cistern 22 into thetoilet bowl 10. As shown, the flushing mechanism 40 includes a flappervalve 42, 42′ for alternately covering and uncovering the water line anda snorkel tube 44 for providing atmospheric air residing above the water60A within the cistern 22. In operation, water 60A within the cistern 22passes into the water line 26 (shown as water 60B), and into the toiletbowl 10 (shown as water 60C). It should be recognized that otherflushing mechanisms may be employed in various embodiments of thepresent invention, the depiction of a flapper valve being for purposesof illustration only.

Unlike known toilets or toilet tanks, the cistern 22 is provided with anorifice 23 through which an exhaust tube 46 may pass. The exhaust tube46 is exposed to air within the cistern 22, such that a continuousairway is provided from the toilet bowl 10, through the air line 28 andsnorkel tube 44, into the cistern 22, and out the exhaust tube 46. Thatis, by drawing air from the exhaust tube 46, air pressure above thewater 60A is decreased, thereby drawing air from within the toilet bowl10, thus removing offensive odors within the toilet bowl 10. While shownin FIGS. 1A-B as passing through the orifice 23 of the cistern 22, itshould be understood that, in other embodiments, the exhaust tube 46 maymerely attach to the orifice 23, such that the exhaust tube 46 residesentirely or primarily outside the cistern 22.

In order to ensure an airtight or substantially airtight environmentwithin the cistern 22, such that a decrease in air pressure within thecistern 22 is effective to draw air from the toilet bowl 10, a sealant50 is provided between the cistern 22 and the tank lid 24, comprising aseal therebetween. Virtually any sealant or sealing mechanism may beemployed, including, for example, a liquid or gelled sealant (e.g.,petroleum jelly), a fiber or rubber gasket, or a friction device (e.g.,a nylon gasket). Regardless of the sealant chosen, the sealing of thetank lid 24 to the cistern 22 provides an airtight or substantiallyairtight environment within the cistern 22, such that air is drawn fromthe toilet bowl 10. In other embodiments, the tank lid 24 and cistern 22may be fixedly attached. In still other embodiments, the toilet tank 20may comprise a unitary body.

To help ensure an airtight or substantially airtight environment withinthe cistern 22, orifice 23 also preferably includes a sealing mechanismto provide a seal between the cistern 22 and the exhaust tube 46. Such aseal may be removable, as described above, or fixed, as there shouldseldom be a need to move the exhaust tube 46 with respect to the cistern22 once the toilet 100 is installed.

FIG. 1B shows a top view of the toilet 100 of FIG. 1A, with the tank lid24 removed. While the exhaust tube 46 is shown exiting the cistern 22through its back wall, it should be recognized that the exhaust tube 46may exit through any wall of the cistern 22.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an odor removal system 200 according to anembodiment of the invention is shown, comprising the toilet 100 of FIGS.1A-B and an exhaust line 146 extending from the exhaust tube 46 andultimately to an outdoor ventilation space 280. Connected to exhaustline 146 are shown a check valve 170 and an exhaust fan 180. Exhaust fan180, when activated, reduces pressure within the exhaust line 146 and,therefore, the toilet bowl 10, thereby removing gaseous contents withinthe toilet bowl 10. While depicted as an exhaust fan, any device capableof exhausting the contents of the toilet bowl 10 may be utilized,including, for example, a vacuum device.

As shown, the exhaust fan 180 vents gaseous contents of the toilet bowl10 to an outdoor ventilation space 280, either directly through a wall162 of the building in which the system 200 is housed or via attachmentto a vent pipe 148 normally connected to the building's sewer system. Asshown in FIG. 2, the exhaust fan 180 is activated via a switch 190. Theswitch 190 may be a manually activated switch, such as that shown inFIG. 2, or an automatic switch. Illustrative automatic switches include,for example, motion-sensitive switches, light-sensitive switches, andpressure-sensitive switches. In the case of a pressure-sensitive switch,the switch may be connected to, mounted beneath, or integrated into atoilet seat (not shown), such that the exhaust fan 180 is activated whena user sits on toilet seat.

The check valve 170 may be any known or later-developed device capableof substantially restricting air flow within the exhaust line 146 to adirection from the toilet bowl 10 to the outdoor ventilation space 280.That is, the check valve 170 substantially prevents the flow of air fromthe outdoor ventilation space 180 into the toilet bowl 10 during, forexample, periods of high wind or high atmospheric pressure.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specificembodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives,modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention as set forth aboveare intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

1. An exhaustible toilet comprising: a toilet bowl; a toilet tankincluding a cistern and a tank lid; a seal between the cistern and thetank lid capable of forming a substantially airtight seal between thecistern and the tank lid; at least one pathway for the flow of air froman interior of the toilet bowl to an interior of the toilet tank; and atleast one opening in the toilet tank for exhausting air from within thetoilet tank.
 2. The exhaustible toilet of claim 1, wherein the sealincludes a sealant permitting detachment of tank lid from the cistern.3. The exhaustible toilet of claim 2, wherein the sealant is selectedfrom a group consisting of: a liquid sealant, a gelled sealant, a fibergasket, a rubber gasket, and a friction device.
 4. The exhaustibletoilet of claim 2, wherein the sealant includes petroleum jelly.
 5. Asystem for removing odors, the system comprising: an exhaustible toiletincluding: a toilet bowl; a toilet tank having at least one orifice forremoving air within the toilet tank; and at least one airway between thetoilet bowl and the toilet tank; an exhaust device connected to the atleast one orifice of the toilet tank.
 6. The system of claim 5, whereinthe toilet tank includes: a cistern; a tank lid; and a seal between thecistern and the tank lid capable of forming a substantially airtightseal between the cistern and the tank lid.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein the seal includes a sealant permitting detachment of tank lidfrom the cistern.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sealant isselected from a group consisting of: a liquid sealant, a gelled sealant,a fiber gasket, a rubber gasket, and a friction device.
 9. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the sealant includes petroleum jelly.
 10. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the exhaust device is selected from a group consistingof: an exhaust fan and a vacuum device.
 11. The system of claim 5,further comprising: a switch for activating the exhaust device.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the switch is selected from a groupconsisting of: a motion-sensitive switch, a light-sensitive switch, anda pressure-sensitive switch.
 13. A toilet tank having at least oneorifice for removing air within the toilet tank.
 14. The toilet tank ofclaim 13, wherein the toilet tank includes: a cistern; a tank lid; and aseal between the cistern and the tank lid capable of forming asubstantially airtight seal between the cistern and the tank lid. 15.The toilet tank of claim 14, wherein the seal includes a sealantpermitting detachment of tank lid from the cistern.
 16. The toilet tankof claim 15, wherein the sealant is selected from a group consisting of:a liquid sealant, a gelled sealant, a fiber gasket, a rubber gasket, anda friction device.
 17. The toilet tank of claim 15, wherein the sealantincludes petroleum jelly.